Rakin Finishes Five for Five

By Bill Rosenberger

To say that Michelle Rakin has dominated the 2004 Western Women's Regional 9-Ball Tour this season would be an understatement.  o­n November 7, she finished off her season sweep by winning the fifth and final stop of the year at Family Billiards in San Francisco, CA. 

Rakin's dominance o­n the tour stretches back to last year when she won the opening event, then proceeded to win tour stops 3 through 5.  Dating back to last year, the 20-year-old college student has now won eight straight tour events, but this year her finale did come at o­ne expense-she lost her first and o­nly match of the year.  

Rakin started the event as normal as possible, rolling through to the hot seat match to face another rising star, Revelina Morales.  The two battled back and forth, and Rakin might have been a little stunned at how well her opponent was playing.  With the match o­n the hill at 6-all, Rakin managed to take the last game for the 7-6 win. 

Morales headed to the semifinals to play Mary Osborn, who had just knocked out Lisa D'Atri in a long and exhausting match.  Morales took advantage of her tired opponent and won the match easily 7-1.

Morales and Rakin were set for a rematch in double-elimination finals.  The first set was much like the hot seat match, with both ladies playing aggressively.  It went to the hill again, but this time, Morales pulled out the victory.  The remaining players and crowd almost gasped because it was Rakin's first match loss of the year.  The second set started out like the first, and it stayed close.  With the score tied at 3-all, Rakin took over and ran the table the rest of the way for the 7-3 tournament victory. 

For Rakin, though, it wasn't just another win.  She broke her own record of four tour wins in a season by sweeping all five events in 2004.  She also tied tournament director and tour founder Julie Hunter by winning her fifth straight regional championship.  It's a safe assumption that Rakin could be making a name for herself in the pro ranks for years to come.

Results:

1st Michelle Rakin

2nd Revelina Morales

3rd Mary Osborn

4th Lisa D'Atri